Idling Ordinance Progress Expected In January

Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson’s administration is working with the Metro Council to fine-tune legislation that restricts the amount of time motorists can idle their vehicles.

Air Pollution Control District spokesperson Matt Stull says the legislation aims to reduce pollution by limiting idling time, but it does not set a time limit for running engines.

“We felt that would be a little bit too cumbersome to have someone there running a clock, as it were, to time idling. But different stakeholder groups have recommended different periods of time, from five minutes to ten to fifteen, so that’s something that still has to be worked out,” he says.

An actual time limit on idling would have to be added by the Metro Council, and the administration has given a proposed ordinance to the council for fine-tuning. The proposal calls for fines for excessive idling, starting at 100 dollars. It makes exemptions for emergencies and other safety issues.

“Anything that’s happening on a road in traffic would be exempted,’ says Stull. “Drive-thru services would be exempted. Emergency type issues, those would be exempted.”